Our Goals

Money can be a complex and daunting topic. But our goals here are simple. Difficult, but simple.

Our first is the most basic. Achieve financial independence by the time our daughter turns 3. She was born in 2015, which means our target date is a little under 2 years from now. That’s goal number 1: Achieve financial independence and be able to live off our savings by March 22, 2018.

Becoming parents changed us, changed me. This is a cliche statement to make, but in this case, I think it’s true. Mrs. Grizzly and I have always been what we call ‘prestige monkeys’, chasing just one more banana of impressive schools, high-powered jobs, or fancy awards.  Our daughter changed all that. I’d march naked through Times Square if it was good for her. I’d punch the CEO of my company in the face to help her. I’d rip up every diploma, award, or accolade I’ve ever received to make her happy. That’s goal number 2: Be the best parents we can from this point forward.

So many people in our shoes just continue along the path we’re on. Never diverting from the upward path of corporate prestige and money. The counterexamples are rare as diamonds: the folks who pursued dreams lived their best lives and died smiling with zero regrets. It would be easy to continue to live the way we do now. It’s what our families, our friends, society, expect us to do. Complacency would be the path of least resistance. Going another direction involves rocking the boat. We want to rock the boat! That’s goal number 3: Turn our lives upside down for the better.

But we also want to rock a larger boat if we can. So many people are trapped in the same maze we were in – a maze of money and fancy stuff. Trading our lives away for some shiny baubles. But more importantly, humanity is facing serious problems as a result of these collective choices. We’ve constructed a society that does irreparable harm to the world around us.  And one that seems to have the effect of making us all a little miserable in the process. We want to show as many people as we can that there is another way. A way that makes us all better and happier and healthier. That’s goal number 4: Save the world.

Should be easy.